Date: Saturday, 21 February 2026
Location: Liberty Stadium
The wind bit hard in Swansea.
Cold rain flicked across Costa's cheeks as he adjusted the tape on his wrist. A second layer of gauze tucked under the strap now—small precaution after the bruising midweek. Ahead, the Liberty Stadium pitch glistened under the floodlights, slick and uneven. Patches of standing water near the corners, and worn tufts near the penalty spot. Not built for poetry. Built for grind.
He bounced on his toes once. Twice. Let his studs dig in and shift. Not perfect. Not terrible. But slippery enough to punish delay. Jake had said it straight on the coach:
"They want to slow you down. Don't give them the time."
No metaphors. No buildup. Just clarity. And Costa liked that.
